Rotary snap-switch.



- S. KORF & R. WITZ. ROTARY SNAP SWITCH.

- APPLICATION FILED JULY 30, 1910.

Patented July 11, 1911'.

3 SHEETS-SHEET1 nuwwi zd S. KORF & R. WITZ.

Patented July 11,1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

attomu s. KORF & R. WITZ. ROTARY SNAP SWITCH. APPLICATION IILIZD JULY30; 1910.

Patgnted Jul 11, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

iinirnn STATES rannr cur os.

i somatic cuit of the series can be broken as to make "onbreak thecircuit to any desired number oft-he lamps; to provide. a device thatmay be operated by' a single pull-chain and thus obviate the necessityof employing a chain 'or'key for each lamp; and to enable theoperationot the device by successive pulls upon the single chain.

.The invention is particularly applicable to J the control of tungstenlamps which are 25 usually arranged in clusters, and also to v lampswhich are socketed in lighting fixtures.

' Thc'preferred embodiment of our inven- "'tion hereinafter describedand illustrated 30 in the accon'ipanying d'awings.

In these drawings, Figure 1 is a side elerationof a dome within whichthe invention is held Fig. 2 is a side View of the disk or plate inwhich the bulb sockets are removably held and of the lamp operatingmochanism wl'iich is secured to said plate; Fig. 3 is a plan Viewthereof; Fig, i is a plan View oi the box containing the operatingmocha- ,nisin but with the upper section of the box removed; Fig. 5 is asimilar View with the ratchetwheel and the parts above the sameTemovedyhig. 6 is a vertical. section showv ing particularly thelowermost contact strip; "Fig. 7 is a vertical section through the,rabhet wheel neniber; Fig. 8, a detail pericctire o" the ratchet wheelcontact band; .lfig. l), a side elevation showing the invention appliedto a residence lighting fixture; Fig. 10, a plan view thereof and Figs.11 and 12 are vertical and horizontal section yiew's of such device. I

vFaster-ring to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1 to. 8, i11clusive, the deviceis shown in connection with a tungstenlamp.

' sai /inst Konr AND ROBERT wrrz, or onroaeo. ELECTRIC COMPANY, orCHICAGO, rumors. a oonrona'riozi or rumors.

ROTARY SNAP-SNITCH.

Specification of L ettcrs Patent. i i Application filed July 30, 1910.Serial No. 574.710.

- ride a device in which the continuous cir-' rumors, Assrenons "120 THEWI-KO Patented m ii, on.

1 is a dome to which ashade is preferably I secured although not shown.-.iVithin the dome v,rea'iovably held a reflector-and socket carryingplate 2 in which are removably secured the sockets 3 for the electricincandescent lamps 4, 5, 6 and 7. 8 is a box which is made into an upperand lower sec tion and it is preferably of porcelain, although anysuitable on-conducting inaterial may be used. 'lhemechanism forcontrolling the elect ,circuit to the lamps is incasc'd within thi box.Referring to this in.ecl1anisin,'9 is a hollow post towhich is connecteda member consisting of the tubular part and the ratchet wheel 11. ,Thismember is made of a non-conductingniaterial such as rubber or fiber.Surrounding the tubular part 10 is a .metal band-1E2, the lower portionof which is constantly in confact with a strip 13 connected by a screw14: to a terminal 15 to which is connected by a binding screw to one ofthe wires of the electric circuit. At the upper part, the band 12 iscutaway so as to provide a semi-circular portion 'lG which is ofslightlyfgreatcrheight than the lower part of the bandand'it-o expose aportion 16 of the. tubular non-con ducting part v10. Terminals 17, 18,-19 and 20 are adapted to establish a circuitfor the lamps through thespring 'Inetal conductor strips 21, 22-, 23 and 24: contacting-with thepart 16 of band 12. 'Ascparate wire 25 is provided for each lamp toformithe second wire of the circuit-itor each lamp and itis connected tothe binder :p'ost' which'contacts with the strip adapted to make thecircuit for the lamp by a binder screwy'and'also to such lamp throughthe socket. All the wires except the wire leading totcrininal are incontact at 25". 'Each ofthe Contact: strips and the respective terminalwith which it is in circuit are secured together and to-the box by ascrew 26; 'l he terininals 151,17" and 20 are provided with a plate, 27-attheir top :which has ascrew-threadedopening therein to receive thescrews 2-8 which secure the sections together. Bolts 29 seeurethe box asa whole to the platefl. Preferably made integral with thespring nietalstrip Ellis a detent pawl 30 for theratchetwheel ll. Loosely mounted onthe post 9 "above the ratchet wheel'is a plate lwhich has an arm 32 towhich thepawl ii is pivoted,-whioh pawl is adapted to move the ratchetforward when operated. A spiral spring 34: held within the hollow post 1keeps'the pawl and ratchet in engagement and returns the plate after anoperation of the device. An operating pull chain 35 is connected to anarm 3-"; of the plate 31 and a pull thereon will move the ratchet onetooth. Stop pins 37 a 0 provided and the arm 36 is adapted to abutagainst the same to limit the revolving of the ratchet wheel. Thecircuit is adapted to be established for the respective lamps by thecontact of its conductor strip with the semi-circular part 16 of band12. It will be seen that in a cluster or series of lamps that the lampsthereof will be lighted whose conductor strip is in contact with part 16and that those lamps will be out of circuit whose conductor strip is incontact with the non-conducting part 16. Any number of lamps may beemployed and a conductor strip must be provided for each lamp andsuitably wired as are the lamps shown.

The device is adapted to be operated by successive pulls upon the chain35. Assume that none of the lamps are lighted. The conductor strips areall contacting with the non-conducting part 16. To light a single lamp,the chain is pulled once, which causes. the ratchet to revolve one tooth.which brings the part 16 into contact with the strip 21 which lightsthe lamp l. Upon a second pull, strip 22 would establish a circuit forthe alternate lamp 6 and upon a, third and fourth pull the strips wouldestablish a circuit for the alternate lamps 5 and 7, respectively. Thelamps are thus all lighted. To break the circuit,-the chain must bepulled once for each lamp so as to move the part 16 out of contact withthe conductor strip.

It is obvious that the contacts and wiring may be so arranged that anynumber of lamps may be lighted as are desired, and it will be noted thatthe entire mechanism is operated by a single pull-chain. G

- In Figs. 9 to 12, inclusive, the switch is shown as mounted in aresidence lighting fixture. At the base of a vertical pipe arm 38, froma central coupling 39 radiate pipe arms 40 to the outer ends of whichare connected the lamps or bulbs. A plate 41 is removably clampedagainst an extension 42 of the coupling 39. Bolts 43 adapted to clampthe plate against the extension, pass through the plate and have hookcnds .adaptedto engage the arms 40. Upon the plate is secured a box 4. 1within which is located the improved switch mechanism. The switch box ismade in two parts with the lower or main part supported on the member 41and the upper portion 44 secured to said l0wer-part and adapted toreceive by means of a-socket or aperture the lower end of the arm 32 ofthe rigid fitting of the fixture. The box in the case of this form offixture is preferably round. An inclosing shell member is composed ofthe upper and lower sections 15 and 46. Cov ering pipe arms 4:7 for thearms 40 are screwed into the section lo. A tube 18 is secured to theplate 11 and extends through and beyond an opening in the section 46,the section being secured in place by the threaded engagement of a knobtt) with the lower end of the tube. The pull chain 50 for the switchpasses through and is guided in the tube. The device of Figs. 9 to 12,inclusive, forms the subject matter of an application divided from thisapplication and filed by us on February 23, 1911, for an electric switchfixture, which divisional application bears the Serial Number 610,354.The switch mechanism in this form is similar to that of the other form.The wires are necessarily longer, however, and pass through the pipearms to the lamps.

The lighting of the lamps in both devices alternately as shown is not anessential feature as any combination of lamps may be successivelylighted by suitably connecting the wires.

It is clear that we may vary the details of construction of our deviceor make any changes within the spirit and scope of our invention.

Having thus described our invention,what we claim is:

1. In an electric snap switch in combina tion with a series of electriclamps, a removable box made of non-conducting material and adapted tocontain the switch mechanism, separate contact strips for the lamps, acircuit controller in said box adapted to successively contact with thedifferent strips, said box having openings formed in its side wall toaccommodate the strips and wiring and adapted to. receive the wiring andsupport the switch mechanism upon the same side thereof leaving a plainsmooth surface on one side of the box whereby the same may be attachedto different forms of fixtures, substantially as described.

2. In combination with a suitable shell, a lamp supporting plate adaptedto receive a plurality of lamps, a removable self-contained switchadapted to be mounted on the inner face of said plate and having aswitch box provided with a flat, plain surface andcomposed of twoseparable switch inclosing members in combination with wiring andcontact strips leading to the different lamps and a common circuitcontroller for successively lighting and for successively extinguishingsaid lamps mounted within said box and operating said contacts, meansfor operating said controller and a pull chain connected to saidoperating means and passing through the box and through said plate,substantially as described.

3. In a lamp, a shade holder, a removable tion with the lamp and theoperating 10 plate therein, electric lamp sockets removmechanism,substantially as described. ably secured to the plate, an operating Intestimony whereof We have aflixed our mechanism containing device havingan upsignatures in presence of two Witnesses.

'. per and a lower section removably secured SAMUEL KORF.

to the plate, lamp operating mechanism ROBERT WITZ.

within said device, a single pull chain for Htnesses:

operating said device extending through the H. Lon'rznnron,

plate, and electric circuit means in connec- F RED S. Loon-11s.

